Obvious as soon as you’ve thought of it or seen something similar before (not necessarily before), which is why this column (as well as being hugely enjoyable) and bridge books are so important. The spade suit combination is interesting on a stand alone basis though.
Imagine EW grab their diamonds early, what is the best line for 1 loser in spades? With SAQ alone onside, you’re fine, also SQ alone while AQ(x) offside or even onside is unmanageable. That leaves the 2-2 cases (even stevens) but also SQ alone offside. So a S to the K is the %age shot – again, something you don’t want to have to work out at the table.
LWTA is instructive too.
Regards,
Iain
bobbywolffJune 26th, 2023 at 1:16 pm
Hi Iain,
Always thank you for your to the point comments and your powerful and kind endorsements. It takes mostly good people to turn a village into a successful town with you the prototype necessary to prove it.
To others, while first learning bridge, relatively easy card combinations should enable the keen student to advance quickly to the playing stage, where application then fortifies the desire to enter the arithmetical truths which may
take more time to improve.
And although no one player, even with great knowledge and determination is totally free from mistake(s) the game itself with its peaks and valleys still being determined, offers a wonderful challenge to every form of thinking.
In any event, yes there are brains where and when it takes longer for bridge truths to become natural, but even to them, there is much to enjoy while following the colorful road to success. I strongly recommend getting involved, simply because there are so many ways to enjoy the competition
of what the best of all mind games, always offers.
Iain ClimieJune 26th, 2023 at 3:10 pm
Hi Bobby,
As an aside, and bearing in mind today’s quote, I have a standard pair of retorts when the opponents get a good score at pairs. “Well played” means it; “Well done” is a compliment on the score they’ve got despite it being based on unsound bids, plays or just damned luck e.g. holding AKJ10xx opposite xx in trumps and playing the Ace first instead of a first round finesse – without any extra info Qxxx onside is 4 times more likely than Q alone but…. This allows me to appear sporting while not gnashing my teeth too loudly; it also amuses a regular partner.
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Hi Bobby,
Obvious as soon as you’ve thought of it or seen something similar before (not necessarily before), which is why this column (as well as being hugely enjoyable) and bridge books are so important. The spade suit combination is interesting on a stand alone basis though.
Imagine EW grab their diamonds early, what is the best line for 1 loser in spades? With SAQ alone onside, you’re fine, also SQ alone while AQ(x) offside or even onside is unmanageable. That leaves the 2-2 cases (even stevens) but also SQ alone offside. So a S to the K is the %age shot – again, something you don’t want to have to work out at the table.
LWTA is instructive too.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
Always thank you for your to the point comments and your powerful and kind endorsements. It takes mostly good people to turn a village into a successful town with you the prototype necessary to prove it.
To others, while first learning bridge, relatively easy card combinations should enable the keen student to advance quickly to the playing stage, where application then fortifies the desire to enter the arithmetical truths which may
take more time to improve.
And although no one player, even with great knowledge and determination is totally free from mistake(s) the game itself with its peaks and valleys still being determined, offers a wonderful challenge to every form of thinking.
In any event, yes there are brains where and when it takes longer for bridge truths to become natural, but even to them, there is much to enjoy while following the colorful road to success. I strongly recommend getting involved, simply because there are so many ways to enjoy the competition
of what the best of all mind games, always offers.
Hi Bobby,
As an aside, and bearing in mind today’s quote, I have a standard pair of retorts when the opponents get a good score at pairs. “Well played” means it; “Well done” is a compliment on the score they’ve got despite it being based on unsound bids, plays or just damned luck e.g. holding AKJ10xx opposite xx in trumps and playing the Ace first instead of a first round finesse – without any extra info Qxxx onside is 4 times more likely than Q alone but…. This allows me to appear sporting while not gnashing my teeth too loudly; it also amuses a regular partner.
Regards,
Iain